Herm Edwards is an analyst for ESPN and a former head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets. Each week during the NFL season, the former Monterey High, Monterey Peninsula College and Philadelphia Eagles defensive back will share his thoughts with The Herald’s John Devine.

You have to stick with the kid. CJ Beathard is the quarterback going forward for the 49ers. The problem now is he has to go through my old team in Philadelphia, and that defense is pretty good. That front seven is scary.

You can throw on the Eagles some, but you have to be protected to do that. That did not happen last week against Dallas as the kid was sacked five times and fumbled twice. That all adds up in a lopsided score.

This was one game where it happened early and got out of hand quickly. Dallas found its sea legs and started rolling. It piled up 501 yards. It had the ball for long periods of time. When you start going downhill with the running game, the passing game gets going.

This is where coaching comes in. You have to say, “Look, it happens to every team.” Every once in a while you get one of those games where you go, “Oops, what just happened?” This happens to good teams. We know where the 49ers are right now.

The front office has surrounded the youth of this team with a bunch of veterans that have good character. They’ve drafted good-character guys. They understand this is what it’s going to look like, but we can’t make a habit out of this.

A chunk of this roster isn’t used to losing coming out of college. It’s hard to win a game in the NFL. These guys have had hope because of how they’ve played up until last week. Five games decided by three points or less — two losses in overtime.

You feel like you’re coming and then you have one of these games. After Philadelphia, they have two teams they could beat in Arizona and the Giants.

Raiders rebounding?

Usually when a quarterback throws 52 times in a game, it’s not a good result. Teams that did that were 2-14 before the Raiders won last week against Kansas City. In looking back, the offensive line did a great job in pass protection.

The Raiders still aren’t running the ball well. That’s a concern. Last week they said we’re going to put the ball in their best player’s hands in Derek Carr and throw the ball to Amari Cooper. If we’re going to go down, we’re going down with our best guys.

The Bills don’t allow a lot of points. You can move the ball on them some. They are not a top-10 offense. They can move the ball on the ground. The runner is legit. And the quarterback is a runner.

Coaches always preach “Don’t beat yourself.” What Buffalo does well is it doesn’t beat itself. It’s just a solid football team.

What it also has is a big home-field advantage up there. It’s loud, it can be windy, and now it’s starting to get cold. The fans are right on top of you. It’s like a high school stadium with no track around it.

I saw enough of the Raiders last week to feel good about their offense. They may have to throw 50 times again. But if the wind is blowing, that could be difficult, because is swirls in that stadium. They need to run the ball some.

Oakland’s defense will get tested. The same issues it had with its defense last year are showing up this year on defense. Can it stop the run? Because that’s what Buffalo does.

Press conference 101 for CAM Newton >> What I would try and explain to Cam is you’re not putting on a good image for your brand — you do so much work in the community with kids. He’s engaging. He’s never been in any trouble. His trouble is press conferences.

But if he hears something he doesn’t like, he holds grudges. You’ve got to be a pro. What kind of message are you sending to all the kids that look up to you when you act like that in a press conference? This is how you act when you lose or are mad at someone? It’s not the right message.

Look, you’re the face of this organization. You have an obligation to do this. You don’t have to be joking or smiling after a loss. I’d sit him down with our PR guy before going into a press conference. Go over the questions that are probably coming.

Have a game plan. It’s better if you dictate the conference. Go out there and start talking for about 10 minutes. Go through the highlights of the game and opponent. If you do that, there will probably only be enough time for maybe two questions.

I never read a paper or watched TV when I was an NFL head coach. I’d go to our PR guy and say what’s the hot button today. He’d say this is the buzz. I’d just start talking before they could ask a question. I’d control the press room by what I was saying. They’re writing it down.

You can’t walk up there saying, “What’s the question?” Don’t let the press conference control you. That’s part of your job. Losing is no fun. Your job is to educate people. Tell them why. Don’t let them assume.

I pull for the guy. But you can’t come into a press conference only when it’s all good. You’re hurting yourself, your brand. No one is talking about the team. We’re talking about a press conference. Is he doing it on purpose to take pressure off his teammates? I doubt it.

Around the league

It’s hard to make a trade in the NFL. That’s just not a thing in the NFL with the salary cap and contracts. Most rosters are set. If you make a trade, then you have to cut someone. It’s more than trading a body, it’s trading money.

The most consistent team in the NFL right now is the Eagles. Their only loss all year was in Kansas City. The last two weeks Pittsburgh has looked good. The offense is starting to pick up. And the defense is No. 2 in the NFL.

I want to take the Rams seriously, I just feel like I’m going to get scorned. These guys are OK. I still think they have a chance to make the playoffs. They’ve had some impressive wins. They’ve gone on the road and won games. I see you, Rams.

But it’s almost as if we’re waiting for the quarterback to have a bad game. I like the kid. And Todd Gurley has been really looking good for the Rams as a runner and receiver out of the backfield.

The Giants have been a big disappointment. I don’t see the Packers keeping it up after losing Aaron Rodgers. I thought Atlanta would be a little better.

I’ll tell you what. If the Chargers win this week in New England, they’re for real. They’ll challenge for that division. If they keep winning, I think fans will eventually start to come to L.A. They’re fun to watch. They’re entertaining.